H.B.'s Big Heist

By Joseph D. Medwar

The book "H.B.'s Big Heist" follows Jack Winner as he continues his life working in the EMS and prepares to marry his fiancé, Melanie Straight. They fondly remember their last Christmas together, spent in Jem City Park, where they admired the festive lights, manger scene, and snowstorm. Jack proposed to Melanie with a stunning diamond ring while on one knee. Melanie recently graduated from Physical Therapy School and celebrated with a party at their favorite nightspot, Alley Burger Entertainment Center, where friends and family congratulated her. It was a joyous and overwhelming experience for her.

Mike Saber and Jack Winner have been EMT ambulance partners for a while and have become a "WELL-OILED MACHINE," saving lives. Captain Jim Hawker, their operational manager, has inspired everyone at the Jem City Ambulance Base. Their ambulance transports have included critical care patients to rehabs, dialysis clinics, and doctor visits at various hospitals and offices. During emergency 911 calls, Ambulance 55 has been the team on the scene during fire rescue and crime scene stand-by.
Jack and Mike were tight with the Jem City Detectives, Glen Delayo and Brian Lehman, two of the best for Jem City. Detective Brian Lehman was single and fond of Deidra Straight, Melanie's mother. Deidra was the head nurse at the Jem City Hospital Emergency Room. Brian asked her out on a date, and after a couple of days of thinking about it, Deidra said, "Yes." They continued their bonding and dating several more times, within mind Deidra's husband, John, who was murdered in a home invasion only a year before.

Street gangs from the Jem City projects were acting up. Brutal games on the basketball courts for money took place. Gangs like the Head Bangers, Black Hawks, and Hell Hoopers were out to conquer their enemies. A group called the Head Bangers, led by Lenny, their gang leader, went to extremes for cold, hard cash. It included armed robbery and heartless murders, as they stopped at nothing. One thing led to another as the Head Bangers hooked up with Jermane and his people, who specialized in complicated heists and prostitution. Strategically, they planned a major robbery in a bank downtown. It was the perfect heist; they would make millions—if they pulled it off!

While doing last-minute errands for their wedding, Jack and Melanie somehow step into a major crime in progress! Will they live through this to see tomorrow? Their chances are slim as the outcome unravels chapter after chapter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph D. Medwar
• Release date: Dec 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215798195

Joseph D. Medwar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR THE AUTHOR JOSEPH D MEDWAR worked in the Emergency Medical field for 10 years as an EMT in the 1990s and experienced real-life events saving lives. He also worked 12 years as an Operations Field Manager, for a private security company. He graduated from High School, Paris Island MCRD, and medical transcription school. These skills came in handy during life events and as an Author, he is writing for your entertainment, the series Jack Winner fictional thriller Novels; EMERGENCY AND THE WHITE CRYSTAL! H.B.'S BIG HEIST (follows 1st novel, more to come!)

Book preview

H.B.’S BIG HEIST

Jack Winner Thriller

Joseph D Medwar

Copyright 2023 Joseph D Medwar

Published by Joseph D Medwar at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.  This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.  If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy.  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

DEDICATED

To my brother, who passed away at the age of thirty years old, in the prime of his life, due to an unsolved Criminal act in the year 1987?

PREFACE

The book H.B.'s Big Heist follows Jack Winner as he continues his life working in the EMS and prepares to marry his fiancé, Melanie Straight. They fondly remember their last Christmas together, spent in Jem City Park, where they admired the festive lights, manger scene, and snowstorm. Jack proposed to Melanie with a stunning diamond ring while on one knee. Melanie also recently graduated from Physical Therapy School and celebrated with a party at their favorite nightspot, Alley Burger Entertainment Center, where friends and family congratulated her. It was a joyous and overwhelming experience for her.

Mike Saber and Jack Winner have been EMT ambulance partners for a while, and they have become a WELL-OILED MACHINE, saving lives. Captain Jim Hawker, their operational manager, made himself an inspiration to all at the Jem City Ambulance Base. Their ambulance transports included critical care of patients to Rehabs, Dialysis clinics, and doctor visits at various hospitals and offices. During Emergency 911 calls, Ambulance 55 was the team on the scene during fire rescue and crime scene stand-by. 

Jack and Mike were tight with the Jem City Detectives, Glen Delayo, and Brian Lehman, two of the best for Jem City. Detective Brian Lehman was single, and fond of Deidra Straight, Melanie’s mother. Deidra was the head nurse at the Jem City Hospital Emergency Room. Brian asked her out on a date, and after a couple of days of thinking about it, Deidra said, Yes. They continued their bonding, and dating several more times, within mind Deidra’s husband John, who was murdered in a home invasion, only a year before. 

Street gangs from the Jem City projects were acting up. Brutal games on the basketball courts for money took place. Gangs like the Head Bangers, Black Hawks, and Hell Hoopers, were out to conquer their enemies. A particular group called the Head Bangers, led by Lenny, their gang leader, went to extremes for cold hard cash. This included armed robbery and heartless murders, as they stopped at nothing. One thing led to another as the Head Bangers hooked up with Jermane and his people, who specialized in complicated heists and prostitution. Strategically, they planned a major robbery in a bank downtown. It was the perfect heist; they would make millions—if they pulled it off! 

Jack and Melanie, while out doing last minute errands for their wedding. Theysomehowstepped into a major crime in progress! Will they live through this to see tomorrow? Their chances are slim, as the outcome unravels chapter after chapter.

CHAPTER 1

Jem City Gangs

Soaring through the air, isolating its target with pinpoint accuracy, swish from the top of the key, this round projectile, commonly called a basketball, broke the plain of the hoop. Ronny from the proud street gang, the Head Bangers, added two more points toward their race for victory. It was a typical backyard-type battle under the lights at the Jem City basketball courts. The befuddled Black Hawks, another street gang of hoods created out of the Jem City projects, returned the ball down court, unaware of how quick and agile their opponents were. From out of nowhere, Lenny, the gang leader of the Head Bangers, sprang like a charging lion. He stole the ball from his opponent and raced the opposite way down the court. Lenny dribbled like no other, past the opposition as if he were in stealth mode, flying low, invisible to the radar. One, two, three oversized steps, he took off like an f-sixteen fighter jet delivering its missile, slam-dunking the ball stalwart into the target. 

Lenny screamed, Yeah… Yo-mother—nothing like it—can't touch this! The Head Bangers are number one man! 

He beat his chest with his fist several times, crediting his unbelievable effort. The Black Hawks brought the ball back up court. One of the players kicked it out to the corner for an outside shot taken by Ricky, their gang leader. The ball hit the backboard, ricocheting off the rim. Nat, from the Head Bangers, seized the rebound and brought it back up the court. He dished it off to Tom, who fed the ball to Sammy, who pivoted around the defender for an unbelievable layup. The Black Hawks got trounced! It was the game-ending point. The Head Bangers were unbeatable and invincible to all! They beat every challenger that ever opposed them so far!

Nat demanded his prize money, saying to Ricky, A hundred bucks, man, as we agreed—loser—pay up! It's our win; you owe us the cash, homey. Pay up now, bro!

Ricky stomped over to his defeated Black Hawks to discuss the wager they owed, saying, If we don't pay them now, I doubt that if we live more than five minutes more, these guys are crazy and got guns. 

Each Black Hawk player produced a crinkled twenty-dollar bill from deep inside his gym short pockets and handed it to Ricky. He, in turn, walked over to Nat, who resembled a stoic, hard-core Head Banger. 

Ricky handed the money to him, alleging, We'll get you next time, I'll guarantee it!

Nat swiped the money from his hand. You're on... if you still got the kahunas homey, get ready for another beating! 

The Head Bangers grouped, congratulating each other, pounding fists and slapping high fives. The Black Hawks bowed out silently, quickly, and disappeared from the court. 

Tommy suggested something, saying, I'm thirsty. We need something ice-cold, man. We need alcoholic beverages. It's a good night for some brew! 

After a hard-fought battle, food and drink were a good idea.

All five of the hoods crammed themselves into Tommy's blue four-door Chevy Impala and headed across town to the Five Corner Package Store on the outskirts of Jem City. It was a quiet weeknight, and the hustle and bustle of the daytime working crowd had subsided to the tranquility of a working weeknight; nobody was around! Tommy parked the car, leaving it running, staying put in the driver seat while the other four Head Bangers, Lenny, Nat, Sammy, and Ron, headed into the store. Acting casually, they entered the package store, noticing the clerk was sitting behind the counter watching a basketball game on his mini TV. He didn't seem interested in what they were getting ready to do. Lenny, as did the others, pulled his stocking mask over his face as he casually and quickly closed in on the clerk. Lenny produced from under his hooded sweatshirt a colt-45 revolver, a trusty piece that he knew how to use. 

He stuck the loaded revolver under the store clerk's chin, saying, Don't move, or I'll blow your brains out, hands up! 

The package store clerk tried to get a glimpse of Lenny, but the nylon stocking over his face made it hard to distinguish his features. Ron and Sammy locked the front door and turned the "open" sign around to the "closed" sign. It was a premature time to close, but customers would quickly turn away and look for another liquor store to do their business with. Fortunately, there were many of them in the downtown area.

Nat jumped over the counter and opened the cash register, unveiling about five hundred dollars in United States currency. He shoved the money into a pillow sack he grabbed from Tommy's car. 

He couldn't believe it and screamed, "That's all in the draw, man! You've got to have money somewhere else!

Lenny pushed the gun deeper into the clerk's jaw and demanded, "Where's the safe, man? There has to be more than five hundred dollars in the building!" 

The clerk nervously pointed to a backroom office. Lenny shoved him towards the room, and Nat followed behind the pair. 

The liquor store clerk stopped in the middle of the room and nervously mouthed, "Over there, behind the picture on the wall in the back of the desk." 

With the gun pointed at his back, Lenny walked him over to the picture and told him to remove it from the wall. The store clerk took the picture off the wall, revealing a combination safe. 

Lenny ordered, "Open it or I'll blow your fucking head off!" 

The store clerk tried the combination, but his hands trembled so much that he kept messing up the numbers. 

"Damn it, open it," Lenny shrieked! 

His trigger finger was starting to tense. The store clerk tried a few more times and finally succeeded.

Nat pushed the package store clerk away and advanced towards the safe. 

"Oh man… Oh man,"  

He pulled out paperwork from the safe containing legal type documents, titles, paperwork for a liquor license, and some un-cashed checks stacked and tied with an elastic band. Nat threw and scattered everything on the floor. He observed something much more exciting and of value to him and the Head Bangers. There were about Eight thousand dollars in stacks of hundreds, twenties, tens, and one-dollar bills. It was beautiful green cash, easy money, and theirs for the taking. They hit the jackpot! Nat opened his money sack, dropping every cent into it. He was like a crazed leprechaun with his pot of gold. Satisfied, it was time for them to vanish, leaving no trace of their presence. 

Lenny yelled, "Let's get the hell out of here!" Nat went to the front door, where Sammy and Ron stood as lookouts. Both men gave a thumbs-up signal and high-fived each other. 

Meanwhile, Lenny dauntlessly pushed the store clerk to the back office floor and cocked his weapon. The store clerk, wholly bewildered, looked up at Lenny and started to whimper. 

He cried out, Please don't shoot me, mister! You'll go to jail for life if you kill me, mister. Don't, I have a family, a wife, and kids.

Lenny yelled out, ignoring the family part of the storekeeper's plea, I might be going to jail, but you're not going to know anything about it, are you, my man. 

He cocked the weapon and put two bullets in the store clerk's chest, killing him on the second shot. With nobody alive, there would be no witnesses. Lenny grabbed a magic marker and initialed the store clerk's head with the letters H. B., a calling card for the authorities to figure out. The Head Bangers were like kids in a candy store, grabbing what they could off the shelves: beer, wine, and hard liquor. Sammy unlocked the front door, and they bolted for the blue Chevy. 

Tommy sat quietly in the car, nervously waiting for them to come out. He wanted to break loose. When they finally showed up, he popped the car trunk, and they threw in the alcohol, money, and the nylon stocking disguises worn over their heads. Nat slammed the trunk closed. Without hesitation, the four men quickly jumped into the car, not wasting another minute. Tommy hit the gas and bolted for safety; he had to make some distance, as far away from the Five Corners Package store as he could. It was another major slam-dunk for them as the Head Bangers pulled off what they considered a victory. It brought the morals of the gang up and made them a little richer. Lenny joked around, popped a beer, and poured it over Tommy's head while he was frantically making his getaway. Tommy swiped his hand at Lenny, not liking it one bit! 

Hey man, cut the crap! I can't see the road! 

Lenny tried to get him again, and Tommy screamed, I'm driving you asshole, back the hell off!

Lenny let out his war cry, Head Bangers motherfucker—The Head Bangers rule!

The gang retraced their tracks back to the Jem City projects by the basketball courts. Tommy parked and opened the trunk of the Chevy, revealing all the earnings they acquired from the night's events. They carried the loot and the liquor up to the apartment. Playfully rousing each other, they climbed the dungy-lit stairs of the projects to the third floor. It was Lenny's apartment but a centralized meeting place to gather and to crash when his piers needed to. 

Lenny assured them, As long as the government and welfare department didn't catch on, it was fine with me, and you homeys can stay as long as they want.

Ronny suggested, with a crooked smirk, Let's order pizza to go with the beer. I'm hungry, man! 

He ordered five pizzas with everything on it. The girl on the phone explained to him that it would take a half hour to forty-five minutes tops, maybe less. It was not busy tonight, so they prepared the pizza and delivered it quicker than if it was a weekend night. 

Ronny answered, Fine, just get the food here, I had a hard day at work today, and I'm very fricken hungry! 

Ron did not want to hear her bull and hung up the phone.

They drank beer and liquor and talked about how their tracks were covered. Nobody messed up and would suspect anything from them—the perfect heist. 

Did you see that store clerk's look when Lenny first put the gun to his face? I thought the guy was going to dirty his pants right there, laughed Nat.

Ronny added, If the guy were doing his job, he would have seen us when we first walked in.

Lenny wanted to discuss making even more money with the extra cash in his pocket. 

He explained, "We need a good plan to pull off a bigger job man, and I want the hell out of this place man. I want a place to live and my life out of these projects. I need to find a way, and I'm going to find a way, brother. I can feel it!" 

Lenny was sick of public housing and the government up his butt all the time. I want and need luxury, even if it means murder and armed robbery… so be it!

The doorbell rang. Ron opened the door, and the pizza deliveryman stood there holding five hot pizzas with everything on them. Ron paid the guy and flipped him an extra Twenty dollars for his trouble. 

Thanks a lot, man, appreciate it, have a good one, said the pizza guy. 

Ron closed the door, and the aroma of hot bread, cheese, assorted meat, and veggies filled the room. Out of control because of the hypnotizing pizza smell, they rushed at Ronny, grabbed the boxes, and the five feasted on pizza and beer for the rest of the night. Satisfied that their bellies were full and their pockets had a lot of money, the Head Bangers plotted their next heist, and Jem City was their prey.

CHAPTER 2

EMT Partners

Emergency Medical Technicians Jack Winner and Mike Zaber rolled their empty stretcher out of the Jem City General Emergency room, finishing an ambulance response call. They dropped off a patient in the care of Deidra Straight, the Emergency Room Head Nurse. Deidra was also the mother of Jack's long-time girlfriend, Melanie Straight. Jack asked for Melanie's hand in marriage last Christmas Eve, giving her a beautiful diamond engagement ring. They have experienced both good and bad times together. They were involved with dangerous individuals in the past year and almost didn't make it.

The EMTs have been partners for two years and have experienced positive and negative situations. They were becoming a well-oiled machine, a great partnership. Jack and Mike collapsed the stretcher supports to the ground and lifted it onto the back of Ambulance Fifty-Five. The catch on the floor secured the stretcher, so there was no possible way it would roll or move around with or without a patient. The door slammed shut, and both of them jumped into the front seats of the ambulance. Jack sat at the driver's side, and Mike sat shotgun on the passenger side. During the subsequent emergency transport, Jack would provide patient care. They switched positions after every response.

Jack called Roy, the dispatcher using the ambulance radio. 

Jack keyed the microphone, saying, Ambulance Fifty-Five to dispatch. 

Roy responded from dispatch after a low crackle sound, Go ahead, A-55. 

Jack answered, Dispatch, we're clear from the Jem City ER and ready to respond.

Roy in the dispatch office acknowledged, saying, Roger, Ambulance 55. Have you guys left the parking lot of the hospital yet?

Jack answered, Negative, we're still here, about to leave, why.

Dispatch responded, Good… head upstairs to the Dialysis Unit and pick up Mrs. Lezzy; she's ready to transport home after her treatment. 

Jack keyed the microphone, Received, dispatch; we're on our way up to the dialysis unit to transport patient Lezzy.

Jem City Ambulance has transported Mrs. Lezzy to and from her home for about five years now, monitoring her blood pressure and vitals in case they changed for the worse or, in their terms, bottomed out. Quick access to life-saving equipment in the ambulance was within their reach while they rushed her back to the Emergency Room. She recently had surgery to become a double above-the-knee amputee; her mobility was limited, and she had difficulty using a wheelchair. It was a day-by-day grueling process for her. They rolled the stretcher into the dialysis clinic on the second floor. Mrs. Lezzy was sitting in her usual dialysis chair, reading a magazine. She looked stable enough for them to transport her home in the ambulance. Jack and Mike waited while the nurse removed the tubes attached to her arm from the dialysis machine. Then, Jack and Mike carefully lifted her onto the stretcher using a patient lifting technique. They additionally would make her more comfortable with blankets and pillows. She has been susceptible since her recent surgery and the treatment she had just received. Her pain threshold was very high, even though they considered her stabilized.

The attending nurse smiled, waved, and said, Good night Mrs. Lezzy. We'll see you next week, okay? 

Mrs. Lezzy returned the wave, and she headed out the door with Jack and Mike. They rolled the stretcher down to the ground floor by the Emergency Room, where they parked Ambulance Fifty-Five. Jack and Mike lifted her onto the back of the ambulance and locked the stretcher in place. Mike carefully attended to her in the patient area as Jack took his turn at the driver duties. Jack spoke into the microphone, calling control. 

Roy answered, acknowledging Ambulance 55. 

Jack repeated, Ambulance 55 is transporting dialysis patient Mrs. Lezzy back home from her dialysis treatment. We're monitoring her vitals.

Roy, the dispatcher, answered, Ambulance 55, you're en route 1300 hours (1:00 pm Civilian Time) with Mrs. Lezzy back to her residence.

They headed out to the Jem City Housing for the Elderly, where Mrs. Lezzy's lived. Mike took a set of vitals, evaluating that she was stable for the transport, and he documented everything on paper. 

The ride was uneventful, and Jack called Roy in dispatch, Ambulance 55, En-arrival at the Jem City Housing for the Elderly. 

Roy acknowledged him. Jack parked the vehicle and opened the rear doors of the ambulance. Mike jumped out, and the two EMTs lifted the stretcher away from the back of the ambulance, releasing the latch on the bottom and dropping the wheels to the ground. They entered the apartment complex and waited for the elevator. A loud ding sounded, and the elevator doors opened as they rolled the stretcher into the car. Jack pressed the button for the twelfth floor, the doors closed, and the car creaked up the old elevator shaft. Her floor finally came up, and they rolled the stretcher down the hall to Mrs. Lezzy's apartment. She reached for her pocketbook and gave Jack the apartment keys. He opened the door. There was barely enough room to fit into the apartment. Jack and Mike carefully unpacked Mrs. Lezzy from the stretcher and sat her in a wheelchair in the living room. There would be a healthcare aide coming to visit her in about another hour. The aide helped Mrs. Lezzy with the cleaning and her personal needs and brought her meals for her special diet. Jack and Mike packed up the stretcher, folding the blankets and reattaching the stretcher safety straps.

Mrs. Lezzy grabbed Jack's bicep, saying, My, what large muscles you have!

Jack reacted and said, Appreciate it, Mrs. Lezzy— check this out. He did a Charles Atlas pose for her with his hand curled under his chin.

Mike let out a laugh, Ya—right on. . . Winner!

However, Mrs. Lezzy was impressed; Oh, how wonderful you look, you're just like a statue. Thank you, boys, for helping me. I'll see you next week, you both, are the best. 

The two big-headed heroes grabbed their gear and went back down the elevator to the ambulance. 

It was Mike's turn to drive, but he was not up for driving, so Jack stayed at the wheel. Jack radioed dispatch, Ambulance 55 is clear from the Jem City Housing for the Elderly.

Roy responded, Ambulance 55, Jack and Mike, could you both stay for an extra shift until midnight tonight? 

Jack wanted to tell him no, but he needed the money. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Mike nodded yes.

Jack keyed the microphone, saying, Roy, sure, no problem, we'll do the shift.

Roy acknowledged, You guys are great! There's no call at the moment. Post your ambulance around the hospital area, and I'll notify you when I need you.

Jack said, Received dispatch. We'll be posted in the area until needed.

Jack turned to Mike, and he sarcastically informed him, Well, Mike, we're stuck for a second shift together. . . Aren't we lucky?

Mike contested, You know, Winner—your face is getting uglier daily.

Jack looked in the rearview mirror of the ambulance, checked his face out, and said, "Well, my girl Melanie still loves it—I'll guarantee you that!"

Melanie has been Jack's steady girlfriend since High School. It was back when Jack was a jock football star, and Melanie was a cheerleader who cheered Jack and the team on to all their victories. As the years flew by, they experienced many different life-changing events together. One major incident with the East Coast Cartel almost got both of them killed. The couple, now thirty years of age, are in love and engaged to be married. Jack gave her a beautiful one-carat diamond ring last Christmas. She wore it faithfully, showing it off as often as she could. Melanie Straight is in her final year of college and will graduate as a physical therapist this year. Her mother, Deidra Straight, was the head nurse at the Jem City General Emergency Room. The father, John Straight, was murdered in an apartment home invasion, shot twice in the back as he tried to defend and protect Deidra, his wife. The assailant attacked them while they were still in bed. It was a very tragic episode in Melanie's life. 

Jack recalls, That reminds me, I better phone Melanie and let her know I'm working tonight and won't be home until after midnight.

Mike requested, "Before you do that, could you head to the diner? I want to get something to eat. I'm starved!" 

It was past four o'clock in the afternoon, almost five, and time for dinner. Jack agreed with Mike; he started the ambulance and headed over to the diner by the Ninety-Five off-ramp. On the way to the restaurant, he phoned Melanie and told her he would not be home tonight, that he'd be working late. He explained to her that he picked up an extra shift until midnight. Melanie told him, no problem, that she would be home with her mother all night and